Practical Korean for learners: reading Hangul, everyday conversation, honorifics and TOPIK preparation.
Not in textbooks, but everywhere in real conversation, social media and dramas: Korean slang and abbreviations. We cover common abbreviations, slang for emotions, consonant-only chat shorthand, fandom terms, how new words are formed and what to watch out for when using them.
If Koreans don't understand you even though you read every letter correctly, pronunciation rules may be why. We explain the seven final-consonant sounds, linking, nasalisation, liquidisation, tensing, aspiration, palatalisation, ㅎ-dropping and more, with examples.
Your favourite drama can be the best Korean textbook there is. We cover choosing shows for your level, using subtitles in stages, studying one scene in depth, shadowing and dictation, common drama phrases, and pitfalls to watch out for.
Particles are the grammar point Korean learners find most confusing. We explain the difference between the topic marker 은/는 and the subject marker 이/가, the object marker 을/를, 에 vs 에서 for places, and common particles such as 도, 만, 의 and 와/과 — all with examples.
TOPIK is the Korean proficiency test you need for study, work and visas in Korea. We cover the difference between TOPIK I and II, level criteria, what to expect from listening, reading and writing and how to study for each, test-day tips and how to plan your preparation.
Korean has not one but two number systems. We explain when to use native Korean and Sino-Korean numbers, how to say times, dates, ages, prices and phone numbers, and the essential counter words — with examples.
You can travel Korea without speaking Korean, but a few words make the trip far more enjoyable. Here are practical phrases with pronunciation for the airport, accommodation, restaurants, cafés, shopping, transport and emergencies.
In Korean, the same idea changes to "haeyo", "hamnida" or "hae" depending on who you're talking to. We explain polite and casual speech, when it's OK to switch to banmal, honorific vocabulary and forms of address — from a learner's point of view.
Can you really learn to read the Korean alphabet in a day? We explain how King Sejong designed Hangul, then walk through consonants, vowels, syllable blocks, final consonants and pronunciation rules at a learner's pace.
